Pump means

ABSTRACT

A pump, particularly for use in discharging foul gases from the bottom of a boat, comprises two intercommunicating compartments partly filled with liquid so that, during rocking of the boat, the liquid flows from one compartment to the other. Each compartment contains an inflatable plastics bag and the bags are continuously inflated and deflated to vary the pressure in a chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet openings.

United States Patent [191 Grant Nov. 13, 1973 41 PUMP MEANS I t t [76] lnventor: Herbert Charles Furney Grant, 5

Eastfield Rd., Ross-on-Wye, England [22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,998

[52] U.S. Cl 417/211, 417/331, 417/389, 417/394, 114/183, 60/22 [51] Int. Cl... F04b 19/00, F04b 17/00, B63b 13/00 [58] Field of Search 417/394, 395, 211, 417/240, 330, 332, 331, 389, 241, 97, 100,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,674,948 4/1954 Root 417/211 X 2,688,923 Bonaventure 417/395 X 2,712,795 7/1955 Hjarpe 417/124 3,007,430 11/1961 Breneman 417/211 X 3,148,624 9/1964 Baldwin 417/394 X Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Gluck Attorney-Irvin S. Thompson et al.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT A pump, particularly for use in discharging foul gases from the bottom of a boat, comprises two intercommunicating compartments partly filled with liquid so that, during rocking of the boat, the liquid flows from one compartment to the other. Each compartment contains an inflatable plastics bag and the bags are continuously inflated and deflated to vary the pressure in a chamber having valve-controlled inlet and outlet openings.

8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PUMP MEANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to pump means and has for its object the provision of pump means which does not include a prime mover and has no moving operating parts, other than valve means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides pump means comprising a housing having a pair of compartments separated by a partition which permits limited communication between the compartments, a flexible container within each of said compartments and non-return valve means permitting the flow of fluid into and out of said containers in response to variations in pressure in the compartments, the compartments being partially filled, in use, with a liquid such that, when the housing is subject to a rocking motion, liquid will flow between the compartments to create a pressure differential therebetween and thus vary the pressures in the containers.

Each container is conveniently a plastics bag which is connected by a pipe to a chamber having inlet and outlet openings. A flap valve is preferably provided at each of said openings, the arrangement being such that, when the liquid flows out of one compartment, the pressure in that compartment and in the container situ ated therein falls causing a reduction in pressure in the chamber with the result that the inlet flap valve opens to allow entry of gas into the chamber. When the liquid flows back to said compartment as a result of rocking movement of the housing, an increase of pressure in said compartment, container and chamber is obtained with the result that the outlet flap valve is opened and gas is discharged from the chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The single FIGURE of the accompanying drawing is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump for use in a boat for effecting discharge of foul gases, petrol vapour and the like from the boat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pump shown in the drawing comprises a housing moulded from'a synthetic plastics material and containing two compartments l1 and 12 partially separated by a partition 13 constituted by part of the upper wall of the housing. In use, the compartments 1] and 12 are about half filled with water, the amount of water being such that, when the housing is tilted about an axis parallel to the lower edge of the partition 13, water will flow freely from one compartment to the other but the air in one compartment will remain sealed from the air in the other compartment.

Each compartment contains a plastics bag 14 formed, for example, of polyethylene and connected to a tube 15 of, for example, clear polyvinylchloride. The upper wall of each cmpartment is formed with a central well which defines a pump chamber 16. The upper end of the tube 15 is passed through an opening in the wall of the chamber 16 whereby communication is established between the interior of the bag 14 and the chamber 16 and the chamber is at substantially the same pressure as the air space at the top of each compartment.

An inlet opening is provided at the base of each chamber 16 and is controlled by a flap valve 17. A plate 18 formed with an outlet opening is attached to the upper end of each chamber 16, the outlet openings being controlled by flap valves 19. A cap 20 is fitted over each plate 18, the caps 20 being interconnected by a tube 21 with an outlet pipe 22 extending from one of the caps 20 and being passed over the side of the boat. The housing 10 is provided with at least one filling opening which is closed by a resilient plastics plug 23.

In use, the pump is placed in the bottom of the boat so as to partake of the rocking motion of the boat. When compartment 12 is. at a higher level than compartment 1 1, water will flow into compartment 11 from compartment 12, passing beneath the partition 13. As a result gas contained in the plastics bag 14 in compartment 11 will be expelled, passing into the associated chamber 16. The pressure in said chamber 16 will increase, the outlet flap valve 19 will open and gas will pass into the interior of the cap 20 and thence to the outlet pipe 22.

When the boat rocks in the reverse direction water will flow out of compartment 11 and the gas pressure therein will be reduced. Gas will accordingly be drawn from the chamber 16 to inflate the bag 14. The outlet flap valve 19 will close and the inlet flap valve 17 will open to draw foul air, petrol vapour and the like into the chamber 16. As the rocking motion continues, a continuous pumping action is maintained and the foul air, petrol vapour or the like is discharged.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to a pump for use in a boat, the invention has a variety of application, for example, the pump may form part of a rocking horse or other childrens toy, the air discharged by the pump being used, for example, to cause a part of the toy to rotate or to simulate a natural movement.

In the particular embodiment described, the nonreturn valve means at the inlet and outlet of each chamber 16 comprise flap valves. One can, however use 'ball valves or poppet valves. In each case the valve closure member is disposed above its associated seating and will thus be urged gravitationally into its closed position. The outlet valve closure member will move away from its seating in response to an increase in pressure in the chamber and the inlet valve closure member will move away from its seating in response to a fall in pressure in the chamber. In order toprevent the egress of dust, dirt and other debris into the chambers 16, a nylon mesh filter may be provided across each inlet opening.

In a modified form of the invention, the pump housing forms the shell of a marine buoy and the outlet pipe is connected to a fog-horn or whistle whereby the rocking motion applied to the buoy by the sea serves to operate the fog-horn or whistle.

What is claimed is:

1. Pump means comprising a housing having a pair of compartments separated by a partition which permits limited communication between the compartments, a flexible container within each of said compartments and non-return valve means permitting the flow of fluid into and out of said containers in response to variations in pressure in the compartments, the compartments being partially filled, in use, with a liquid such that, when the housing is subjected to a rocking motion, liq

uid will flow between the compartments to create pressure differential therebetween and thus vary the pressures in the containers.

2. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein each container comprises a plastics bag.

3. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein each container is connected to a chamber associated with the respective compartment and having valvecontrolled inlet and outlet openings.

4. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein the non-return valve means comprise flap valves.

5. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed as a moulding from a synthetic plastics material, the housing having upper and lower walls and the partition being formed integrally with the upper wall.

valve means comprises a valve closure member and a seating, the valve closure member being disposed above the seating and urged gravitationally into its closed position in engagement with the seating.

8. Pump means according to claim 7, wherein a cap is fitted over the outlet of each chamber and the interiors of the two caps are interconnected by a pipe located externally of the housing. 

1. Pump means comprising a housing having a pair of compartments separated by a partition which permits limited communication between the compartments, a flexible container within each of said compartments and non-return valve means permitting the flow of fluid into and out of said containers in response to variations in pressure in the compartments, the compartments being partially filled, in use, with a liquid such that, when the housing is subjected to a rocking motion, liquid will flow between the compartments to create pressure differential therebetween and thus vary the pressures in the containers.
 2. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein each container comprises a plastics bag.
 3. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein each container is connected to a chamber associated with the respective compartment and having valve-controlled inlet and outlet openings.
 4. Pump means according to claim 1, wherein the non-return valve means comprise flap valves.
 5. Pump means according to claim 1, whereiN the housing is formed as a moulding from a synthetic plastics material, the housing having upper and lower walls and the partition being formed integrally with the upper wall.
 6. Pump means according to claim 3, wherein the containers are caused to inflate and deflate in sequence in response to rocking motion to draw air into the chamber and to dispel air from the chamber into a discharge pipe.
 7. Pump means according to claim 6, wherein each valve means comprises a valve closure member and a seating, the valve closure member being disposed above the seating and urged gravitationally into its closed position in engagement with the seating.
 8. Pump means according to claim 7, wherein a cap is fitted over the outlet of each chamber and the interiors of the two caps are interconnected by a pipe located externally of the housing. 